The 2007 Hamilton College Climate Change and Environment Issues Youth Poll, conducted by Assistant Professor of Economics Julio Videras and his class with Zogby International, was cited in a PBS Online NewsHour piece about global warming. Hamilton graduate Tucker Hutchinson '07, a member of Videras' class that worked on the poll, was also interviewed. The poll of 900 high school students, conducted in late 2006, found that most American high school students do not know the causes and effects of global climate change. The average high school student failed the study's nine-question quiz on the causes and consequences of climate change. For example, nearly 82 percent of participants affirmed, incorrectly, that 'scientists believe radiation from nuclear power plants cause global temperatures to rise.'"
The PBS story, "Young Entrepreneurs Target Global Warming," noted: "In terms of knowledge and understanding of the issue, a 2007 Hamilton College poll found that in general, American high school students lack a grasp of climate change basics. The average high school student failed the study's nine-question quiz on the causes and consequences of climate change."
The PBS story, "Young Entrepreneurs Target Global Warming," noted: "In terms of knowledge and understanding of the issue, a 2007 Hamilton College poll found that in general, American high school students lack a grasp of climate change basics. The average high school student failed the study's nine-question quiz on the causes and consequences of climate change."
Hutchinson was quoted in the PBS story as saying: "I think that [global warming and climate change] are now buzz words. A lot of kids didn't have to ask what those terms meant. But that doesn't mean they have any idea of how global warming is functioning or what evidence we have to support it."
He also discussed response to poll questions based on political party preference and added, "The environment is an unpartisan issue. It's a human problem."
